Tile



June 1 8, 1935. H. MARSH ET AL 2,005,330

- TILE Filed Sept. 26, 1952' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 13, 1935- H. MARSH ET AL 2,005,380

: TILE Fiied Sept. 26, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 I l 1 I l I l I l l l Patented June 18,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TILE

of Delaware Application September 26, 1932, Serial No. 634,844

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tiles for use in covering walls, ceilings, floors and analogous surfaces, and relates particularly to tiles having a steel body and a vitreous enamel surface.

Tiles of this general type may be applied to the surface to be tiled with the aid of foundation sheets or other means which afford guidance to the tile setter, an example of which is shown in the Haines Patent No. 1,594,614, dated August 3, 1925; or they may be applied to the surface to be tiled by coating the backs of the tiles with cement and pressing the coated tiles against the surface to be tiled, or by pressing the tiles against a. layer of plastic cement on the wall or other surface, as represented by the Ball Patent No. 427,657, dated May 13, 1890. Heretofore, when such tiles were applied without the use of ai'oun'dation sheet or other means affording guidance to the tile setter, it was necessary to exercise care and skill in properly spacing the tiles.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tile of the general type hereinbefore referred to which shall be adapted to indicate to the tile-setter how each tile shall be positioned so as to secure uniformity in the spacing of the tiles, thus reducing to a minimum the amount of attention and skill required in setting the tiles, and which shall be arranged for interlocking connection with one another.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a wall which has been tiled in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a face view of a series of tiles embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tile constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of two tiles in operative relation to each other.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental face view of three tiles operatively associated with one another.

Fig. 6 is a face view of several tiles, showing the application of the invention to square tiles.

Fig. '7 is a section on line l-J of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a face view showing a modification that permits oblong tiles to break joints in a different manner from that illustrated in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, A denotes a wall which may be of any desired nature, as masonry, wood framing, etc., no attempt having been made to illustrate details of construction. The tiles may be mounted on the wall by applying cement to the tiles and then pressing the tiles against the wall, or by applying cement to the wall and then pressing the tiles against the cement. In this view, B denotes the cement, mastic or mortar, and C designates the tiles.

In practice, the dimensions and specific forms of the tiles will vary with the particular nature of the surfaces to be covered. For example, the lowermost course of tiles may, if desired, embody a curved portion to produce a so-called base cove, and tiles which are to constitute the top course in a wainscotin'g may have a curved portion to form a top cap. Since the nature of the present invention may be understood from a description of the flat field tiles, reference may now be made to Fig. 3, which shows one of these tiles in perspective. The tile comprises a plate I which may be of any desired perimetral outline, as, for example, square or oblong. Upon each margin of the plate I is a flange herein shown as extending perpendicularly to the plane of the plate I. 2 is the bottom flange, 3 the flange on the upper edge of the tile, and 4 and 5 are the flanges on the side or end edges of the tile. If desired, these flanges may be narrower than herein shown.

The flange 3 is provided with means to cooperate with the flange 2 of an adjacent tile for the purpose of accurately locating such adjacent tile, and the flange 2 is adapted to cooperate with such flange 3. Similarly, the flange 5 is provided with means to coact with the flange 4 of an adjacent tile to locate such adjacent tile in proper position, the flange 4 being adapted to coact with the flange 5.

In the present embodiment of our invention, three angular lugs are formed upon the flange 3, there being a lug 6 located midway of the length of the tile and two lugs I located midway between the lug 6 and the ends of the tile. Each of these lugs consists of a portion 8 (Fig. 4) extending outwardly from the flange 3 and perpendicularly thereto, and a portion 9 extending from the outer edge of the portion 8 parallel or approximately parallel with the flange 3. It will be seen that the portions 8 and 9 form, together with the flange 3, a short channel or grooved element to receive the flange 2 of the adjacent tile, as shown in Fig. 4.

Space should be provided between adjacent tiles to receive grouting or pointing material. The flanges 2 and 3, therefore, should not be in contact with each other, but should be spaced apart to receive such pointing material. In order that the tile-setter shall not be obliged to give attention to the matter of providing such space between the flanges 2 and 3, we provide upon one of these flanges, as, for example, upon the flange 3, bosses 10 which project into the channel formed by the parts I, 8 and 9, and thus restrict the width of said channel so as to compel the placing of the flange 2 adjacent to the portion 8. The bosses Ill should be covered'by the pointing material, consequently they are located on the inner portion of the flange 3, as indicated in Fig. 4. In this view the dotted line a denotes the surface of pointing material in the space between the tiles.

In using oblong tiles, such as herein shown, it is customary to break joints, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The flange 2 ,is therefore cut away at H to accommodate the thickness of the portion I of the angular lug I. The flange 2 also is cut away at II to accommodate the portions 8 of the lugs O of adjacent tiles, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 5.

It will be noted that the portion I of the angular lug I is notched at It to receive the flanges 4 and I at adjacent corners of the next adjacent tiles. Thus the lug 6 constitutes means for mechanically locating the tiles in proper relation to produce the broken-joint effect.

Upon the flange i are formed two angular lugs l4 which are like the lug I and are adapted to coact with the flange 4 of the adjacent tile to locate said tile in proper spaced relation. As shown in Fig. 3, the flange 4 is cut away at I5 to accommodate the bottom portions of the angular lugs l4.

If desired, openings may be formed in the portions of the tile which are embedded in the mortar, in order that mortar may flow into such openings and thus aid in keying the tiles in place. Herein I have shown openings ii in the bottoms of the angular lugs l and M.

In tiling a wall, such as that indicated for instance in Fig. l, the bottom course is laid by pressing the tiles one by one against the wall, beginning at the right. It will be understood, however, that, if desired, the angular lugs l4 may be formed upon the flange 4 so as to provide for laying tiles from left to right. It will also be apparent that tiles which are intended for location at corners would be made rightand left-hand for coaction with adjacent tiles. The bottom course having been completed, the next course is laid, and so on. As indicated in Fig. 1, the flanges 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the angular lugs formed thereon become embedded in the mortar and assist to hold the tile in place.

After the tiles have been set, grouting material is placed in the grooves or spaces between the tiles.

It will be understood that each tile holds the adjacent tiles in place, and that it is impossible for one to become detached.

The channels formed upon the margins of the tiles determine where adjacent tiles should be set, and thus greatly reduce the amount of care and skill required in laying the tiles.

Fig. 6 illustrates the application of our invention to square tiles. Each tile I! has on its upper edge and on its left-hand edge two angular lugs l8 which are like the lugs 6 and are formed on the marginal flanges IQ of the tile. Each lug I 8 has a notch 20 to receive an inwardly inclined lug 2| which is formed from a portion of the marginal flange IS. The interengagment of the lugs l8 and 2| serves to locate the tiles with reference to one another. Bosses 22 serve to space the tiles apart, as in the case of the bosses l0.

Referring to Fig. 8: If it be desired that oblong tiles shall break -joints at quarter-length points, instead of half-length points, each of the three lugs 23 on the upper edge of each tile has a notch 24 to receive the end flanges of adjacent tiles, the notched lugs 23 serving to locate the tiles in proper relation to produce the broken,- joint eil'ect illustrated in Fig. 8.

In the following claims the term "we has been used for the sake of brevity to denote a wall, floor, ceiling or analogous surface of a building or other structure.

We claim as our invention:

1. A tiled construction comprising a wall and sheet metal tiles cemented thereto, each of said tiles having U-shape channels on two of its margins, andeach tile having on two of its margins portions to enter the channels of adjacent tiles to space all of the tiles in proper relation to one another and interlock them and prevent separation of the tiles from one another in the plane of the tiles.

'2. A tile comprising a metal plate having along one margin a U-shape channel to receive a portion of an adjacent tile, and a boss on the flrstmentioned tile projecting into the channel to space apart the tiles to form a grout-receiving space, said boss being below the plane of the face of the plate so as to become embedded in the grouting.

3. A tile comprising a metal plate having marginal flanges, one of said flanges having an angular portion forming a U-shape channel to receive a flange of an adjacent tile, and a part projecting into said channel to space apart the flanges to form a grout-receiving space.

4. A plurality of square tiles, each comprising a metal plate having marginal flanges, each tile having on one flange two angular lugs to receive aflange on an adjacent tile, the last-mentioned flange having two lugs to engage with the firstmentioned lugs to hold the tiles against lateral displacement in the plane of the tiles.

5. A plurality of separately formed like tiles having marginal means for engagement with each other by movement of one tile into the plane of others, said marginal means being adapted to interlock the tiles against movement in said plane in any direction and to hold the tiles spaced apart from all adjacent tiles occupying said plane to provide grout-receiving grooves.

6.- A tile comprising a metal plate having integral marginal flanges extending perpendicularly to said plate, one of said flanges having a plurality of integral extensions each comprising a portion parallel to said plate and a portion parallel to the flange and forming a channel with said flange, the several channels being alined to receive flanges of two adjacent tiles, the portion of one extension parallel to the flange being notched to receive the corner portions of said adjacent tiles, said flange adjacent one of said extensions being pressed outwardly to form a boss spaced from the portion of said extension which is parallel to the plate a distance equal to the thickness of the flange on the adjacent tile whereby said tiles will be held in a predetermined position relative to each other.

HARRY MARSH. ROBERT M. CHESNEY. 

